Tom Tancredo backs out of marijuana bet

One Colorado’s most steadfast, most unwavering, most uncompromising politicians is going back on his word.

Tom Tancredo is welching on weed.

During the campaign for Amendment 64 — which legalized marijuana use in Colorado and which Tancredo supported but didn’t think would win — the former congressman made a bet with a documentary filmmaker that he would smoke a joint with the filmmaker if the measure passed. It did and, as recently as last week, Tancredo said he planned to honor his bet.

But then came the joint juke. The bong-hit backtrack. The pot flip-flop.

In an e-mail to 9News, Tancredo said his bet was never meant to condone marijuana use and he worried about the message his smoking a joint would send to his grandchildren.

“I am especially concerned that the publicity may cause my grandkids to have to justify my actions to their peers and afraid that no matter how many times I say I am NOT condoning the use of marijuana, that that message will not get through,” he wrote.

Tancredo, however, said his support for marijuana legalization is unchanged — arguing that adults should be able to do what they want to do. Except when their families tell them not to.

“Political heat is one thing. Am use to that,” Tancredo, who once called Miami “a Third World country,” wrote in an email to ABC News. “Heat from my family is quite another.”

Family is important, but Tancredo’s excuses are pathetic.
He was married to his wife before a single signature was added to an Amendment 64 ballot petition. He should have known she would be opposed to him smoking pot.
His family existed before the Amendment 64 campaign. His influence on his grandkids was there before the Amendment 64 campaign.
Why didn’t family and grandkid concerns occur to him before he made the bet?
Tom Tancredo, the incandescent dim bulb of politics, shedding far more heat than light.

Public_Man

Ridiculous. Tancredo supported the measure but cares to pass on the moronic stunt of smoking on camera. Take your victory, thank Tom for his support and move on. Nothing to see here.

Black Republican

Is marijuana smoking banned in public places indoors on equal merit with tobacco?

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.